Braeburn Schools, Kenya (Themasters....)

[PDR]

I suspect only themastersandmargaretas can help me with this one but anyone else is welcome to chip in!

Could you tell me your thoughts on primary schools in Nairobi...

We are thinking about coming back for a couple of years while DS is young so he can learn Swahili and form a relationship with this grandparents.

My DH is pushing for Braeburn in Nanyuki so we can live near PIL - do you know anything about the Braeburn "franchise"?

I would prefer to be in Nairobi for obvious reasons.

We will rent/buy as an investment somewhere near the school we choose to live so location isn't a huge factor.

I'd be so grateful for any thoughts when you have a minute!

Sorry for yet another question

Tis always a pleasure PDR.

Do come back.

Braeburn schools have an excellent reputation just now. Very international, yet with a great mix of Kenyans too. Not too pricey, the kids always come across well. Academically I have no idea, but frankly, up to yr 8 they are all much of a muchness.

They have opened a new school out our way, off the Kiambu Road, so good for Thika side. It is small but growing in popularity and goes up to secondary, and offers IB so its something I would consider for dc when they are a bit bigger.

I have only just heard of the Nanyuki franchise tbh. As you know there is a good community in Nanyuki. There are a lot of British Army folk there as that is where they have a training base so may be a transient in terms of ds making friends and them leaving....... Still it would be nice to be in Nanyuki while ds is still small.

Oh I am so glad you are positive about Braeburn.

It does seem very reasonable in terms of cost and it would be lovely for DS...

I think the Nanyuki school must be very new and in a temporary premesis as there were things on the website about finding a "purpose built site".

We'll see... Still in discussion stages ATM.

One more quick question. Who is your health insurance provider? We used BUPA Intl before but cost a fortune!

ps. thank you!
or should I say asante sana?

AXA PPP, still costs a fortune but slightly cheaper than Bupa, also it comes with full annual travel insurance.

AXA PPP Comp cover works out at £2500 pa. for the 3 of us.

I won't even mention what Bupa quoted LOL!

May this be a warning to anyone who thinks living in Africa is cheap!

Might investigate local cover - my SIL has suggested AAR.

[sits by cold rainy window dreaming of african sun!]

Yep, that's about right.

Yes there are local versions but not with general worldwide travel insurance and not with outpatients and dental.......

It's very hot today.

Thanks for all the great advice!!!!

So good to have someone on the ground!

Try contacting J W Seagons here in Nairobi who are brokers for both intl and local insurance companies. They will give you an idea of all your options.

It'd be great to have you here we could have our own mini meet ups in the mara or Mombasa

Great minds..... Seagons is where I got the AXA quote from already. They have given loads of options with lots of details of what is/isn't included in the various policies.

I am amazed anyone moves out there without full company relocation packages TBH it's so expensive! Or maybe there are ppl who don't buy health insurance/don't educate their children etc [wonders who these strange ppl are].

This flat looks nice:
search.knightfrank.com/kekn001001

Something like this would be ideal

we did it without full company relocation.

Both look nice, but Riverside and Lavington are very built up, quite busy, though close to Braeburn/Braeside. For the same money a bit further across you can get something like this just around the corner from me, secure 'estate' lots of space not hemmed in like Lavington.

Very close to me Though the photo doesn't do it justice, highly sought after...

Or Runda, Ridgeways, Coffee Garden, close to Kiambu Road and Braeburn Garden Estate School.

Oooo both lovely [takes notes]!

We're going away this weekend so hopefully DH and I will get to talk.

I'd be there alone with DS some of the time as DH would work away (on safari) so need to be on a secure compound.

I'm sure MIL would pester me keep me company some of the time!

She might know mine.

Dh is often away, we have just bought and recently moved into this one, I feel mega secure after the last place.

Have fun discussing, will watch out with interest for some good news.

How old is ds? This is our local prep school and two local Kindergartens this and Kabete Junior Academy.

Not that I am trying to bamboozle you into joining my locale or anything.

this is lovely and I love Karen

and fully furnished - don't think we'd want to buy everything new for 2 years....

been there, and ended up giving everything away to relatives!

still have our car out there though so that's one less expense!

You definitely get more space and value for money in Karen, most of our old time friends live there, but it was impractical for dh's work. However if your dh is in safaris then it might be a practical place to be....

If you need a house in Langata near to Banda we have very good friends looking to rent theirs out come July.

I need to find out our budget I guess.....

I think July might be too soon for us as have have booked a long holiday to Australia in October.

Might be our last holiday for a couple of years (out of East Africa anyway!)

Oooo you've made me all excited!

Didn't read your post earlier properly! Pesky children getting in the way [joke!]

DS will be 2 this June so say we come after we get back from Australia he'd only be 2.5 (that's why I quite liked Braeburn as they take them from 18 months). Or if we left it a bit longer maybe 3/4 years.

I think this would be such a perfect time for him to absorb Swahili and so nice for PIL to see him growing up. Just need to tell my DM (who lives with us here and we are v close!) She might come with us for a couple of months - you never know!

I love the look of Kabete and fees very reasonable too - full time fees for a term = full time nursery fees for 1 month here

At least something is cheaper!!!!

Loving that fees include Emergency Rescue Service